How to back it in.

[BigMike]

I am trying to learn to back my 5th wheel using mirrors. I have a very hard time doing that. I always get confused which way to turn the steering wheel. I eventually get the job done, but it is sometimes a spectacle. Does anyone have any tips on ways to make it easier?

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1999, 2500, 4X4, QC, Laramie SLT, 5 spd, KN Filter, ISB Plug n' Power, 4" Exhaust, Piller Mount Pyro & Boost Guages, BD Exhaust Brake, Bugshield w/eyebrows. Bedliner, Diamond Plated Rail Protectors, Better Built tool box.
Pull a 2000 30. 5' Terry Manor 5th Wheel. GVRW 12000lbs.

 

[Lurch]

Find yourself a big open space and practice, practice, practice. I grew up on a farm & around semi's. With experience you can put it anywhere. Without it you just look bad.

 

[SOLER]

It definitely takes practice.

It's sort of natural for me. This will sound goofy, but I played with Tonkas, Hot Wheels, and Legos a lot when I was a kid, and had many trailers. The mechanics of backing a trailer aren't hard for me to grasp.

For which way to turn the wheel, one trick is to visualize which way you want to back the trailer. If you want it to go right, then look at you steering wheel. You'll want to make the BOTTOM of the steering wheel go right (in other words, you will be turning the wheel left). The trick, then, is to know how much to turn, and when to start straightening the rig up, etc.

Here's a challenge. I have a trailer hitch on my 5er, and tow a boat behind it. Try backing both up. To back up just a trailer, the truck moves in the opposite direction. But to back up a second trailer, the truck moves opposite the first trailer, and the same direction as the second trailer. I learned how to do this as a crew chief in the Air Force. I worked on F-16s. When we put these in the hangars, we backed them in. And we used these big mules that had tires as tall as me, and had four wheel steering, like monster trucks. The tow bar we used connected to the hitch on the mule, and to the nose gear on the jet. It had two pivot points. . the tow bar would pivot on the hitch, and the nosegear would turn. so if you wanted the jet to go left, you would make the mule back to the left. It took practice, but became fairly simple.

I agree with going to a big field or parking lot and practice for a while. Get some cones and make a little course and see how you do.

Hope this helps!! #ad


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Shane Oler
'01 2500 4X4, ETH/6 speed, ISSPRO Pyro (pre-turbo)and Boost Pillar mount, Dark Garnet/Camel, 4" exhaust, Grill gaurd and nerf bars, 20K Reese 5er hitch

Other: '70 Olds Vista Cruiser 455 (future resto project)
30' Sandpiper 5er Super Slide bunkhouse(about 10k lbs. )

 

[Joe G.]

First thing to do is choose a truck driver for a dad. That helps a lot.

It's kind of like a wheel barrow. Handles to the left to go right. Practice, practice, practice,...

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,3. 54,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

[Ram4Sam]

Mike, before you start backing up, start with your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel instead of the top. With you hand on the bottom of the wheel, just move your hand the direction you want the trailer to go. Move it to left to go left, right to go right. This does away with any reverse thinking when backing.

Oh yea, practice, practice, practice.

Sam

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2001. 5 2500 QC HO 6sp LB 3. 54LS everything except leather, white/agate 2wd,Isspro guauges on the A,ME kit,DD Tru torque module,K&N air filter


Fordaholic-clean and Mopar'd since 10/05/00

 

[BigMike]

Solar, Don't think I'll ever graduate to a double tow. I see these guys on the freeway all the time and always wonder how they back up. I assumed they unhooked one before they backed the other. Bet a lot of them do!

Thank you all for your tips.

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1999, 2500, 4X4, QC, Laramie SLT, 5 spd, KN Filter, ISB Plug n' Power, 4" Exhaust, Piller Mount Pyro & Boost Guages, BD Exhaust Brake, Bugshield w/eyebrows. Bedliner, Diamond Plated Rail Protectors, Better Built tool box.
Pull a 2000 30. 5' Terry Manor 5th Wheel. GVRW 12000lbs.

 

[QRTRHRS]

BigMike,

Pick up the manual vacuum switch for the front wheel drive. That way you can put the truck into low ranch and not fight the front end. You can keep you RPM's and speed at a more managable level. Take some safety cones or something with you to practice with. Practice backing from both sides but when you drive, think ahead. Make it easier on yourself by backing the trailer to your left rather than the more blind right. Don't be to judgemental on your abilities. IMHO, a big truck is easier to back up because you sit higher and have larger mirrors.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Low ranch? Sorry, I meant low range.

 

[illflem]

Sam has the right advice,hand on the bottom of the wheel till you get it down.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks Stinger,Warn fender flairs and running boards(work truck)
95 3500,5 speed 3:54,BD E-brake,Driftwood,Banks&Psycotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(works harder truck)

 

[Guest00]

Just tell HER which way the trailer needs to go #ad
#ad

 

[Doc Tinker]

One thing that I've found that helps is to take it slow.

If you get a little cockeyed, pull forward in such a way that your trailer and truck are straighter, that way you won't have as sharp of a bend to turn when you try your second attempt.

Practice hand signals with your wife, before going on the next trip, and teach her to stay in your mirror. If she can see you in the mirror, then you can see her. Personally, I'd rather back my trailer without help.

Doc

 

[Sled Puller]

I saw that low ranch... I figgered you horse people had a one track mind! #ad


I ditto on that 4low, let that clutch out, keep it out. Don't ride it.
Thing that kills me is the right side diminishing mirror, I need to smash it and get a normal one.
Don't worry about getting it the first time, just pull up and hit her again!
Gene

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1997 Cummins Dodge 4x4 Bombed & Amsoiled. Amsoil Premiere Direct Jobber, Member of: NRA Business Alliance, GLTDR, WANTED: Wrecked Dodges.
www.awdist.com

 

[Champane Flight]

The shorter the trailer the harder to back. Remember that a little goes a long way. Little moves of the steering wheel will have big results. The trailer always moves opposite the direction of the steering wheel. Relax,take it easy,if you get yourself worked up you will over react and make it harder. Always have a spotter and train your spotter. Tell them that if they cannot see your eyes you cannot see them,therefore cannot follow their direction. Always get out and check the area you are backing into. Hidden sprinkler heads,water faucets,posts,phone hookups,and the list goes on and on. They can complicate your day!!!Walk it out,picture it,talk it over with your spotter,let him or her know what and how you are going to back. Take it easy and don't rush it. Slow... Try to keep your whole trailer in the mirrors. When you have to jacknife into a spot,chances are you don't belong there.

And practice,practice,and know what your rigs turning radius is and never pull into anything your not prepared to back out of. I have backed rigs for 16 years and backing skills do not come over night. But with practice you can be a showoff just like me. (At least that what my wife calls me)

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95 Dodge 2500 Luverne grill guard,headache rack,running boards and Amzoiled. Soon to be mildly bombed. 84 Dodge d-150, 318 Hooker headers,Edelbrok intake,mallory ignition,Carter Afb,Accel coil,and Custom dual exhaust. Boat,fifthwheel,motorcycles,and shop. 72000 as of 3/1/01,not even broke in yet. Old Dodge 126000 miles and running better than new.

 

[merryman]

PRACTICE;

I could never "adopt" any of the "trick", as correct as they may be, but for a few years once we lived where we had a 300ft driveway and no place to turn the trailer around once we got to the house and only area where we could park. We were "doing" horses then and a couple times a week it was necessary to back the truck and trailer (extended) horse pull trailer( but principles are the same), the entire length of the drive. It really does get much easier when you do it quite a bit in a short time. After the umpteenth time it got sort of automatic.
Practice
Vaughn

 

[klenger]

Back up till it sounds expensive, then pull forward and try again.

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Ken Lenger
2001. 5 2500 QC 4X4 SWB SLT, ETC/DDX 5 Speed, 3. 54 (no LSD), camper group, trailer folding mirrors, RBR CD/Radio, LT265/75R16E AT OWL tires, trailer tow group, Patroit Blue / Agate, Westin CPS Step Bars, Jordan Utlima Brake Controller, Weather_Guard 664 tool box/
Replaces 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 which is for sale.
Trailite 21' Travel Trailer, ~4000 lbs loaded.

 

[Skydiver]

You probably allready know this,but
WATCH OUT FOR THE JACK KNIFE!
Tim

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1996 3500 Feline deceased. Ready to upgrade. 87K. auto,3. 54,Ext. cab.
K&N air,Star wheel spun,silencer ring hanging on a nail.
Truck looks just like the truck on left side of page 6 issue 31.
1981 mercedes 300D Non-turbo 174K miles
1987 blue phord 2810 tractor 336 hours.

 

[Deezul1]

Get rid of the right side mirror and put a normal mirror in it, a glass shop will do it prety reasonable you cant see whats happening with the safety mirror. I have my wife stand to the rear of the trailer and do nothing at all unless I am going to hit something, no confusion that way. The guys are right practice. I cant hardly back up the car without using the mirrors I am so used to them.
John

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96 SLT Laramie CC 5spd, 3. 54, no muff, no cat, 5"turn down tip. (its for sale)
. Member NRA/USPSA

 

[Koa Man]

All the posts about practice are absolutely correct. That's the only way to get good. When I first started in the tree business and had to back up trailers and chippers, I was pretty bad. After 20 years of doing it every day, I'm like Champagne Flight, sometimes a "show off", i. e. , parallel parking a truck and chipper between two cars to do a job estimate.

I have found two way radios and voice communication is far better than hand signals. You don't have to look for the guide man and he can go from side to side checking and talking to you. FRS radios are really cheap now and can be used for a lot of other things, like from wife in house calling you in the garage or yard, traveling with another party in separate cars, and countless other uses.

 

[Thomas]

Ditto on the FRS—keeps peace in the family.

 

[Jayman]

This has been mentioned, but perhaps I can add a little more. In my experience, I've noticed that the more inexperienced trailer backers let the truck/trailer get too far out of shape before they decide to pull forward to straighten it out. If you spend some time in a place where there are lots of trailers being backed in (and I'm sure many members have), you'll begin to note that you can easily see that there is a point where they've gone too far and they won't be able to save it in the space available. (This sounds more complicated than it is. ) At this point they start to "chase the trailer" and you don't want to do that. It's when they get to this situation that people have problems. They've got the rig all crossed up and the mirrors aren't much help, then they begin to lose track of obstacles around them . The point of this is don't be afraid to pull forward to straighten it out for another run. It may take 3 or 4 tries to put it where you want it. This is OK. You'll need fewer attempts as you become more proficient. With practice you'll get a better feel for how fast the trailer turns (different combinations of truck and trailer lengths will change this) so you can better judge when and how far to turn the steering wheel. Once master this and get comfortable with the mirrors, you'll be able to back into narrow spots that you would be hesitant to drive into simply because you can see the clearances on both sides so well.

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2001. 5 DARK GARNET-QC-SB-ETH-DEE